We debated for a long time whether or not we should camp out while visiting Seoraksan National Park, but since we planned everything the night before leaving, we decided to make things easy on ourselves and book a room in a guest house. While there were quite a few lodging options closer to the park entrance, the ones we found online (in particular the huge hotel with a strange British theme) were pricey, and way more room than what we needed.
Instead we opted for Haru GuestHouse in Sokcho, about a 15 minute or so drive from the park entrance. A guest house falls somewhere between a hostel, a boutique hotel, and a bed and breakfast, and caters to younger, budget-minded clientele. Many of the guest houses we have seen in Korea have a flair for modern interior design and offer a combination of dorm rooms (with bunks), double rooms and family rooms. While the rooms tend to be on the smaller side, there are plenty of common areas for dining, lounging, and watching TV. It’s something like a combination of cafe, lounge, and hotel, all wrapped into one.